Spelling toy



` Sept. 7, 1926.4` 1,599,156

S.VVH.NIN ET AL SPELL'ING TOY sept. 7, 19251. l

\ 1,599,156- S. WILNIN ET AL SPELLNG TOY Filed Oct. 23. 1924 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Snow/WQ@ Sept. 7 1926.

S. WILNIN ET AL.

SIELLI NG TOY Filed Oct. 23, 1994 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 @wom Patented sept. 7, 1926. Y

SAMUEL WILNIN AND WILLIAM TEICHNER, NEW YORK, N. Y.

srELLING TOY.

..App1icatin ledOctober 2'3, 19,24. `Seljialflt'o. 745,389.

Our invention relatesto a toy for teach-l ing youngV children lhow v.to spell.` lVhile useful in teachingspelling,.it can alsobe used vto teachl the answers to various.; ques- 5 tions, historical,

and otherwise. l e f ur linvention-'has forwone offi'ts several objects'the'teaching of "spelling by the use ol Cards having thereon vpictorial represenio tations of the object to be spelled.: For-the sake `of brevity, the subject ot spelling will be used throughoi'it in Idescribing and` claiming the invention, altliougli'itlwill be understood that other subjects can be treated as well. The card is placed upon a platen pref erably oi sheet metalv suitably embossed with .ridgesV whereby the card is properly allocated thereon. In addition to its picture, tliejcard has printed upon it a set of numerals.- The platen is provided with let'- ters radially arranged `about a common axis. lhe'ntlie card is properly placed upon the platen, its numerals bear aipredetermined" relation to certain of the letters, in our. pre-V ferredY forni this relation is suclrthat the numerals are substantially on the radial lines of these letters. [By means of an indexing device which can be set at the various numerals onthevcard in their'numerical or;

until strikes the arm, when the-bell mechi anism'vis tripped causingthelbe'll to ring.

Tliefringing of the bell indicates to they child that he has reached Va letterin the word he is to spell. Anumber of loose let'- ters are provided which thechi'ld'picks up, one by one ascalled for bythe man, land sets in asuitable place lon g the platen vuntil the word is completed., lThe toy comes mountedV in a box "with ahingedlid, the main portion ofv Athebox holding the platen and indexing mechanism, while the lidv is adapted-tok hold a number of cards with various pictorial #representations fand nuv merals. v

In the drawingsiis'gshown byy wayv of ex-V ampleone construction of the toy'according to this invention and :-n Y

Fgure 1 is -alplanv ofY the ytoy with the,`-

cover of the box.open,=Figurej2 is a crosse geographical, arithmetical' lecting the is stamped so der, an arm is successively brought opposite their Corresponding letters; A 'selective deyshown in Figuie 1, is

section takenfalong the line 2-.2 of Figurev l, igure ''ifist a vsectionrta-ken through the ligure used as the selective device taken along the line 8 3 of` Figure 4, Figure 4 is g a section through the selective device taken along the line 4 4' of Figure 3, Figure is aV plan view of the'upper part of the trip lever, igure 6 is an elevation of the upper part of the tri'pfvlever, Figure 7 shows an alternative set of symbols to be used in rse?v letters of a Word, Figure 8 is a partial plan showing an alternative method making use of a ball for selecting the desired letters. and Figure 9 is a partial section along the line'9-9 of Figure 8. 'The' toy is niouiitedin a box 7 having a hinged lid 8. The main portion of the box `has mounted in it a sheet metal platen 9. Lid 8 carriesa plurality of lesson cards 10, one of said cards 10 is also shown lying on the' platen 9.* Bars V11 are fastened across lid 8 to retain eardsrl'O in place. Platen 9 Y that a number of ridges areV formed in it. One ridge 12 eneloses an area which `isi t ula"p'ted to hold the card in a delinite position on the platen. Another ridge 18 is providedfor conveniently ,ietainingaa plurality of'niovable letters, numbers and symbols 16 iii place'alongthe edge of the platen y Still another ridge 14 is used for blocking off a space in which the movable letters,"etc are placed when lpicked troni the area bounded by ridge 13 as will be explained later on. i' i YWhen it is desired, sayfto teach the subject of spelling, Veach card 10 is provided rwith a' ,picture of an objeetwhose name is to be "spelled 'The particular vCard 10,

provided with the picture of a house. Below this picture on the card lO'are the numerals, 5,'1, 2, 4, 3 which correspond as willbe explained, if taken in numerical order, withfthe letters H, O, U, S, E of the row of letters 17 printed on the platen y9 near slot 15. 1 Running through' platen 9 is a pivot pin 1,8, whose lower end isrot-atably mounted in the 'base of box 7. To the upperend ot pin 18 is fastened an index arm'19 adapted f to swing `'past the row of numerals on the cardi The lower end of pin 18 carries an arm 20 extending substantiallyV to slot 15.

The end of arm 2O near. slot 15' carries tasteiied to ita thin plate of metal 39 adapted to slide-over the bottom of box 7.

The numerals 5,1, 2, 4 and 3 on card 10 Vare on radial linesjoining the letters H,O,

U, S, E in row 17 with pin 18 as the center, therefore when index arm 19 is set at 1, arm 20 comes opposite letter I'I, when arm 19 is set at 2, arm 20 comes opposite letter O, and so on until the entire wordho'use is:

Selective device 21- consists or a shell 22v within which is mounted a bell23. The striker 24: consists orfa ring or metal loosely mounted on, hook 25 projecting from bellcrank 26. Bell-crank26 is pivoted on pin 27 and its outer portion is. prolonged into an arm 2S f'ith an index linger 29. Spring 30 normally holds bell-crank 2G so that arm 2S stands out from the selective device 2l. TvvYh'en arm 28 is moved-into the dotted position shown in Figure 3, the reentrant por-Y tion 31 or' bell-crank 2GV locks with the top, pin 32 or trip leverl Trip lever 33' is pivoted on a pin 34; and/is normally held by spring 35 so that its pin is in the path or bell-crank 26. Then pin 32 is locked in portion lspring h'oldsit there.

Vhen using selective device 21, the hook 3G at'the lower end or' 'trip lever 83 is pushed"l through .slot in' platen 9,'-wh ile wheel 37 enters slot 15. The selectivedevice is then moved along slot 15 until wheel 37 rides,

upon' plate 39. The riding .or wheel' 37 upon plate S9 has Ythe e'ectf of' holdingsY arm 20 against any motion, so that whenhook 36,

strikes the endi oi" arm 20, said hook' is pushed back, pulling pin 32 clear olI the bellcrank 2G and tripping same. This causes striker 21 to ring bell'23 and simultaneously arm .28 points out. In orderto setrselectivel device 21 for another'operation, arin28 is pushed down causing theverticlal edge-11 of bell-crank 26l` to pressfagainst `theinclined f face L10 or pin 32 and thereby pushing it out ofthe way until the reentrant portiofn231 comes oppositepin 32. Whenportion 31 is; opposite' pin 32 spring 35' pullsl trip leverBS over so thatpin' 32 enters portion`31'and` locks bell-'crank 26- in its dotted'position (Figure 3).

In operation,V a particular card 10` isplaced'upon platen 9, which by means or" ridge 12 holds the card in' such position that its numerals are oni radial lines 'with certain or the letters, -in thev particular 'caseshown thenumerals it taken in numerical' order being on line' with' the lettersI-I,A O,X

U, S, E. As explained before` when index' arm 19 is set at'numeral 1, lower `arm`l20lv comes oppositeletter'H inrow 17. The se` lective-device 21 is thenmoved alongslot 15 from right'to left untilbell-crank 2G is tripped by arm-` 20J which tripping will' take place at letter H. The operator-'then picks up the movable letter'I-I from amongth'e movable letters 16 and places it down in the space enclosedby ridge 14. Thus the irst letter o'the word Housc7 is'obtained. The operator next sets index arm 19 at numeral 27and then operates selective! device 21 again, obtaining thereby letter O which is placed next'ftoI the lirst letter H already in the space enclosed by ridge 14. This operation is repeated until all the letters or the desired word are obtained.

For convenience, theletters in row 17 are on radial linesl with the numerals on card 10. An equivalent result' can be obtained` even it arms 19 and 20 are at-an angle with cach other instead of being parallelI as shown, as long as when index arm 19 is on a numeral on the card a corresponding letter comes opposite arm 20.- Ir hook 3() or selective device 21 were olif the center of said devicea perfectly feasible construction, a corresponding' oll'set of arm 2O would be required in order to trip the selective device t the predetermined letter.` Y

Instead of using cards or'spelling, his;

toricalquestions could be answered for more n advanced children; Forexample a card couldV be usedwhich asked the question When did Columbus-discover AmericaW" In this case the numerals on'card 10 -would' be on line with numerals 1nl row L1G', which numerals on the card ir followed yin numerical order would produce the date4 11192.

Also the answers to arithmetical problems steel 'ball 42 (Figs. Sand 9) could be rolled' along slot 15; It would stopped when it came over arm 2O by the' magnetic force between it and sai.d"arm, thereby enabling the properletter to be" selected.

Arm 2O islprovided with'a magnetiaed block or' iron 17 near' its ou'tervend.` The edges of slot l'are beveled to bettermain'-, tain hollow ball 42 in its path. lVhen ballj 1-2 is given a push, it rolls alongislot 15 until it comes over arm 2O and vblock 47, wherejit isstopped `the magnetic torce.Y The let-` terunder ball 'el-2-is'then theone desired;

Instead ot using" numerals on ,the card" other*symbolsv might'be used `which irlrollowed in predetermined i order would give"l the desired result.r Forexainpleir Iinstead ot cardV 10' as shown, av series' otd'ashes couldt b'e'usel using the numerals 5. 1,' V2, el, oi'on'lthe of varying lengths, as shownin Fig. 7 the shortest dash being`tlie vone to set the index arm 19 at 'lirst, then setting 'said arm on theV other dashes in accordance as they" increase' in length. In'tlre kparticular'example given` the longest dash wouldlbe shown' first, corresponding to the numeral '5, followedv then by the` shortest dash corresponding to- 'the 'so arranged that when the card is numeral l, followed then by the next to shortest dash corresponding to the numeral 2 and so on. i

1. A toy for spelling words, comprising means having thereon a plurality of letters and a plurality of symbols, said symbols being arranged in a predetermined relation to'said letters, and an indexing device adapted to be set opposite said symbols, said indexing device being adapted to enable the letters corresponding to said symbols to be determined, whereby when said indexing device is set at said symbolsin a predetermined succession, the successive letters of a desired word can be determined. Y 2; A toy comprising a platen-having thereon a plurality of letters, a pivotally mounted indexing device, af cardhalving thereon a plurality of numerals, said platen adapted to hold the card upon it in a predetermined position, the letters on said platen and the numerals on said card being` so arranged that when the card is held in said predetermined position, that each numeral is on a radial line joining one ot said letters with the pivot of said indexing device, whereby the letters corresponding to the numerals can be determined.

3. A toy comprising a platen having thereon a plurality of letters, a card having thereon a plurality of numerals, said platen adapted to hold the 'card upon it in a predetermined position, ar rotatably mounted indexing device having an arm adapted to move over said rplaten and another arm adapted to move under it, the letters on said platen and the numerals on said card being held in said predetermined position that for each numeral on a line with said u'pper arm, there is a corresponding letter on a line with said lower arm, whereby said numerals can select predetermined letters.

4. A toy comprising a platen having thereon a plurality of letters, a card havingthereon a plurality of numerals, said platen adapted to hold the card in such position that predetermined letters correspond to predetermined numerals, a rotatably mounted indexing device having an arm adapted to move above the platen and opposite said numerals and another arm adapted to move under the platen, and a selective device adapted to be actuated by said lower arm for indicating letters corresponding to the numerals at which said upper arm is set.

5. A toy comprising a platen having thereon a plurality of letters, a card having thereon a plurality of numerals, said platen adapted to hold the card in such position that predetermined letters correspond to predetermined numerals, an indexing device having an arm adapted tomove opposite said numerals and a selective device for indieating individual letters, said indexing device adapted to actuate said selective device whereby letters are successively indicated corresponding to the successive numerals at which saidv arm is set.

6. A toy comprising a platen having thereon a plurality of letters, a card having a pluralityot symbols, said platen adapted to hold the card in such position that predetermined letters correspond to predetermined symbols, an indexing device adapted to be setopposite said symbols in predetermined succession and a selective device for indieatingindividual letters, said indexing dev`ice adapted to actuate said selective device whereby letters are successively indicated corresponding to the successive symbols atv which said indexing device is set` 7. A toy comprising a. platen having markedthereon a plurality of letters, a card having thereon a plurality of numerals and a picture whose title Vit is desired to spell, said platen adapted to hold the card in such position that predetermined letters corre-v spond to predeterminednumerals, the said numerals being placed upon the card in such positions that if selected in numerical order their corresponding letters will spell the desired title and indexing means adapted when set at the successive numerals to enable their corresponding letters to be determined.

8. In a toy of the character described,

comprising means having a plurality of letters, a card having thereon a pictorial representation of the word it is desired to spell and a plurality of numerals adapted to correspond to those of said letters which forni said word, when said card is placed in predetermined relation to said means, said numerals, if selected in numerical order, corresponding to the successive letters of said word in their proper order.

9. In a toy of the character described, y

comprising a platen havingmarked thereon a plurality of letters, anotherv plurality of letters removably mounted upon said platen,

a card adaptedto be mounted on the platen,

having thereon a plurality of numerals, which numerals if selected in numerical order correspond tothe successive letters of a word it is desired to spell, thereby indicating to the operator how to pick up the removable letters to form said word. n

l0. In aA toy of the character described comprising a plurality of individually movable letters and a removable card having thereon a plurality of numbers, a platen having marked thereon a plurality of letters, said platen having an enclosed space provided for maintaining said card in ysuch position that predetermined letters correspond to predetermined numerals and another enclosed space provided for holdin@ said movable letters and means adapte when set at the successive numerals of the card to enable their correspond-ing letters to be determined.

11.21 toy comprising a platen having thereon a plurality ot letters substantially in a row and a slot in said platen running along said row et letters, a card having thereon a plurality oi' numerals, said platen adapted to hold the card in such position that predetermined letters correspond to predetermined numerals, an indexing device adapted te be set at the several numerals, said indexing device having a member movable under said platen in accordance with said settings and a selective device adapted to be moved along said slotand to be stopped by said movable member, for indicating when stopped the particular letter corresponding to the numeral at ivnich said indexing device is set at any time.

l2. A toy comprising a platen having thereon a plurality ot letters substantially in a ron' and a slot in said platen ruiming substantially parallel to said row, a card having thereon a plurality ot numerals, said platen adapted to hold the card in such position that predetermined letters correspond to presietermined numerals, an indexing device adapted to be set at the several numerals, said indexing device having a member movable under said platen in` accordance with said settings and a selective device having a mechanism adapted to be tripped when brought into contact with said movable member, said selective device adapted to be moved along said slot tor indicating When tripped the particular letter corresponding to the numeral at which said indexing device is set at any time.

13. A toy comprising` a platen Vhaving` thereon a plurality of letters substantially in a row and a slot in said platen corresponding to said row, a card having thereon a plurality of numerals, said platen adaptedv to hold the card in such position that predetermined letters correspond to predetermined numerals, a rotatably mounted indexing device having a member adapted to move above the platen and opposite said numerals and another member adapted to move underfthe platen and a selective device adapted to be moved in said slot and to be actuated by said lower member for indicating letters corresponding to the numerals at which said upper arm is set, said lower member carrying a plate near its outer end over which the selective device rides for locking said lower member in its successive settings.

lll. A toy as claimed in claim 11, Where in the platen is set in a suitable box and 4the selective device has a roller at its lower extremity vadaptedfto Vroll along the lioor ot said box.

l5. A toy as claimed in claim 11, Wherein the selective device carries a bell adapted to be rung when the mechanism of the selective device is tripped.

1G. A toy as claimed in claim 1l, Wherein the selective device has an arm adapted to fly outward from its main body when the mechanism or' the selective device is tripped, said mechanism adapted to be cocltedAvhen said arm is pressed inward again toward said main body.

`SAMUEL VILNIN. VILLIAM TEICHNER. 

